Dahlia, I’d like to introduce you to my sister, Elena.”

Elena looked so much like the two of them; it was obvious they were siblings. She had gray eyes like Ivan and the delicate features of Alexei. Her light brown hair was braided in a single braid over one shoulder.

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” I said as Elena threw her arms around me.

“It’s nice to meet you too.” Elena patted the chair next to her. “Please sit. You’re the only person they’ve even let me meet since I arrived. For some reason I thought things would be different once I got here, but my brothers are almost as bad as Erik.” She gestured to the large man standing sentry behind her.

“I understand what you mean.” I rolled my eyes and tilted my head toward Ivan.

“Erik, would you please sit? You’re making people nervous,” she said, gesturing to the seat across from her. Erik looked to Ivan, who nodded his head. Erik took the chair from the other side of the table and put it on the other side of Elena’s.

I quirked my eyebrow at Ivan, and he only let out a sigh. Elena ignored the entire exchange.

“Are you excited for your show?” she asked, scooting her chair in. My show. I still couldn’t believe it.

“I am. My first solo show. It’s pretty exciting. I’m so nervous I might puke.”

“It will be amazing. Of course everyone loves your stuff.” The auction bids from the last show had made more than enough to rebuild the shop and open a new branch. “LA, right? That’s exciting!” Elena said, practically vibrating, drumming her fingers on the table. “I can’t wait to go.”

Erik made a noise that sounded somewhere between discomfort and distress, and Elena dropped her hand into her lap.

“LA will be exciting. As long as I don’t pass out tonight.”

“Almost all the portraits have already been bought. You worry too much.” Ivan pressed his lips to my head. I hadn’t gotten used to it yet. Being out in public with him. Living a normal life with him. The shop was almost completely rebuilt. Axel would take over the NYC location, and I was headed to LA with Ivan. It would be a fresh start for the both of us. One that wasn’t without its painful moments.

Rachel had only just moved back to the city, and I’d be leaving. She’d been furious when she found out about my shop burning to the ground and that I hadn’t told her. Worrying her wasn’t something I’d needed to do. And what was I supposed to say? My first love is actually the heir to a Russian crime syndicate, but he’s trying to give it up for me, and oh, my shop got blown up. There wasn’t much she could have done from halfway across the country.

The server came out with a plate and set it down on the table.

“We didn’t order…” And then I saw the plate. I saw what was on the plate. The crispy outside of the pelmeni that I’d recognize anywhere. There was one secret he’d been holding out on. My eyes got wide as I peered over at him.

“Yes! Finally!” I practically shouted and didn’t even wait for a fork. I grabbed one of the piping-hot dumplings and dipped it into the sour cream and popped it into my mouth. The crispiness of the outside was perfect. So fresh. The flavor filled my mouth and made me swoon. If I hadn’t already loved this man…

I finished my first one and stood, leaned over the table and pressed my lips to his. “I love you.” Out of the corner of my eye I saw his hand move. I slapped it away, sliding the plate closer to me and Elena.

“You’ll share with her but not with me.” He chuckled, shaking his head.

“Girls have to stick together.” I shoved even more into my mouth.

With a stomach full of deliciousness, we piled into a taxi and headed to the gallery. I waved to Rachel out of the taxi window. She ran over and hugged me, swaying back and forth.

“I’m so proud of you! So proud,” she said, standing surprisingly steady in her heels. It helped that Killian was there to steady her. Ivan, Erik and Killian all did the guy handshake thing.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s get inside.” Rachel waved us all in. I took a step but stopped when Ivan stopped beside me, his gaze on the street. Immediately my heart raced, and I slowly turned to see what he was looking at. There was a black town car idling at the curb. The window rolled down, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Alexei. He sat in the back of the car looking like himself, but someone else at the same time. He was in a black suit, which was different than his normal relaxed look. But it was the deep scar that ran along the side of his face that made me take a step forward. Ivan’s grip on my hand tightened, and he stopped me.

“Ivan—”

“No.” That’s all Ivan said. Alexei gave Ivan a sharp shake of his head, and the window rolled back up. The car pulled away, disappearing into the afternoon traffic.

“You guys coming?” Rachel called from the gallery doors. “You’re going to miss your own show.”

I turned to Ivan, anxiety creeping back into the easy life we’d created for ourselves, but things were never that easy.

“Stop. We’re going to enjoy your night. You deserve this.”

“But, Ivan—”

“Let’s go.” He tugged me toward the doors, but I hadn’t thought of what Alexei had to sacrifice for our happiness. I could only hope he found some of his own eventually.

* * *

For a look at Ivan and Dahlia adjusting to life in LA, check out their !

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THANK YOU for spending a little bit more time with Dahlia and Ivan!! I hope you loved reading their story as much as I LOVED writing it. These two were fun for me in a different way.

If you’d like to know a bit more about WTF was going on with Dahlia’s roommate Rachel and Killian, you can check out their story in !!

They were wrong—revenge is a dish best served hot.

They call me the Boardroom Bastard.

A bastard out for vengeance.

No one messes with Killian Thorne.

Then Rachel shows up.

She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Luscious curves. An ass I wanna smack and squeeze. No man has ever touched her the way I do, and she’s making me feel things I’ve never felt before.. 

But she works for my greatest enemy, and destroying him means taking her down too. 

She’s ruined me for all other women. Will I ruin her too?

And you can sign up for my newsletter to find out all about my newest books and to get the first installment in my newsletter exclusive novella, THE PERFECT VIEW…

If you want to see where things all started and love a sexy + emotional read, don’t miss , the single dad romance!

Turn the page for an excerpt of Mr. Control…